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Auglaize County Fair is in full swing

“It’s going terrific,” Auglaize County Fair Manager Fred Piehl said Sunday. “They are still going in and we are putting the finishing touches on everything.”

Sunday’s schedule saw a full slate of events, including the 4-H Style Review, Open Class Beef Breeding Show, wrestling and the Truck War. Piehl said the 4-H members in the county are one of the largest contingents in the state.

“We have 2,000 kids involved in the Junior Fair program,” Piehl said. “That’s 1,800 to 1,900 livestock projects and that includes everything from rabbits and horses to chickens — it’s quite a big deal.”

Like any outdoor event, the fair is dependent on Mother Nature to help draw crowds. Oppressive heat or rain can keep crowds home. The forecast for this week calls for temperatures in the mid- to upper-80s with no significant chance of rain.

“Weather is just about everything,” Piehl said. “If it’s in the mid-80s and low humidity and in the 60s in the evenings — that’s the ultimate weather.”

Throughout the week, there are a slew of activities and events Piehl said should appeal to a wide swath of county residents. He noted organizers often try to plan events that have the widest possible appeal.

“We try to change something each year to give people something new when they come in,” Piehl said. “When we travel around the ground and see kids and their parents smiling, it means they are having a good time and that makes everyone feel good. I just hope for the best possible week.”

Piehl touted the fair as one of the only events in the county that brings residents from all communities together.

“The fair is the biggest attraction in the county,” Piehl said. “It’s the only event the brings a little of everyone from each part. When you come in, every community in Auglaize County is represented here and that’s what makes the fair successful.”

The 160th Auglaize County Fair runs through Saturday. Admission is $8, with children 9 and under free. Week passes are available for $25 and there are gate admission specials every day. For more information, visit AuglaizeCountyFair.org or call 419-738-2515.